Chicago, Ill. - Despite holding an early 6-1 lead through four innings, the Illinois Tech baseball team couldn't stave off a late comeback by Lakeland University to send the game into extra innings, where the Muskies prevailed 9-8 in 13 innings Sunday afternoon at a chilly Ed Glancy Field. The Scarlet Hawks start conference play 0-1 and fell to 4-11 overall. The Muskies improved to 9-4 overall (1-0 NACC).
The Muskies Kejuan Harvey punched a two-out RBI single in the top of the 13th inning to score Hunter Frisk for the game-winning run.
Lakeland's Gio Ramirez pitched scoreless ball over the final five innings to get the win for the Muskies, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out two. Alejandro Garcia took the loss for the Hawks, allowing one run, the eventual game-winner, over two innings pitched.
Austin Richardson started for the Hawks, pushing through five innings pitched while allowing three runs (two earned), surrendering four hits, walking three while striking out nine batters over 102 pitches. He departed the game with Illinois Tech leading 6-3.
Lakeland opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Kellen Hodges. The Hawks responded in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of four passed balls to plate four runs. Brandon Bennitt provided the key hit with a two-run single.
The Hawks added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third on a leadoff home run by Michael Paxson and an RBI single by Zack Pacer.
Lakeland began chipping away in the top of the fifth inning when Tyler LaMack launched a two-run homer to cut their deficit to 6-3.
An RBI double by Matthew Jackson plated Bennitt in the bottom of the seventh to put the Hawks up 7-3.
Lakeland tied the game in the top of the eighth inning, including a bases loaded walk to Jack Banks and a two-run single by LaMack. The Hawks retook the lead in the bottom half when Connor Blake singled home Timmy Old to put Illinois Tech up 8-7.
The lead would not hold, however, as Nathan Hemmerling swatted a two-out double to bring home Kaylab Owings in the top of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
Scarlet Hawks Watch
- Richardson started and pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned), four hits, three walks while striking out nine batters
- John Gori pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing two hits and one walk
- Bennitt was 2-6 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI
- Paxson (home run) and Jackson each went 2-5 with a run scored and one RBI
- Blake went 2-6 with a walk, one run and one RBI
- Pacer and David Cooper were both 2-6
Muskies Watch
- LaMack was 3-5 with a home run, two walks, four RBI and one run scored
- Hemmerling was 1-6 with two walks, one RBI and three runs scored
- Collin Schutz went 3-6 with a run scored
- Gio Ramirez pitched five scoreless inning in relief for the win, allowing three runs and a walk with two strike outs
Inside The Box Score
- The Muskies had four passed balls and one wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning
- The Hawks stole two bases; the Muskies stole one base
- Each team committed three errors on the day
Up Next
- The Scarlet Hawks have a quick turn-around, as they travel to Aurora Monday, April 4th to face the Spartans in a NACC double-header that starts at 1pm CT.